Prep notebook: Goldsboro finds offensive balance at the right time

Goldsboro struggled to generate offensive balance until the fourth quarter of its 30-25 win over Ayden-Grifton on Friday.

The Cougars had just 20 yards on the ground until erupting for 105 rushing yards in the final 12 minutes. Goldsboro averaged 15 yards a carry in the fourth quarter.

Karon Alston and Asunji Maddox each scored a rushing touchdown during that stretch. The decision to move Maddox to tailback paid off as he scored the go-ahead touchdown with fewer than two minutes to play.

"Asunji came to us and said, 'Coach, I'm ready'," Cougars' head coach Eric Reid said. "We needed a change and he deserved it. I think Ayden-Grifton got a little tired and we took advantage of it. Our offensive line stepped up in crucial situations and I'm so proud of those five guys."

Arena football anyone?

Rosewood and Princeton combined to score on 10 of their final 12 offensive possessions during their hair-raising, 43-41 triple-overtime battle Friday evening.

The Carolina 1-A archrivals also combined for 359 yards of total offense in the fourth quarter and three overtime sessions.

"If they left early, they missed a heckuva ballgame," Princeton head coach Derrick Minor said. "I say it every week. Our kids don't quit, they have heart, they don't give up and it just doesn't show on the scoreboard.

"Tonight you saw it ... the heart and soul of Princeton football right there."

A whole different feeling

Goldsboro entered the 2011 postseason on the heels of a 42-18 loss at Ayden-Grifton in the final game of the regular season.

Cougars' head coach Eric Reid and his coach staff spent the week following that loss rebuilding the players' confidence. Goldsboro's stay in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1-AA (large-school) playoffs was short lived as it endured a season-ending 45-13 loss at Wallace-Rose Hill.

Goldsboro is riding a wave of momentum heading into the 2012 playoffs, however. The Cougars extended their win streak to nine games with a victory over Ayden-Grifton, and clinched the program's third Carolina 1-A Conference championship in the last four years.

"Going into the playoffs this win is huge," Maddox, a senior, said. "With this win being for the conference championship and being senior night, in the playoffs I feel like overcoming adversity will be second nature for us."

Welcome back, Josh

Rosewood won its appeal.

Josh Davis will serve only a one-game suspension after getting ejected for fighting in a loss against North Duplin two weeks ago. The NCHSAA changed the ruling from fighting to flagrant conduct, which reduced Davis' suspension.

"Having him back is just as big, if not moreso for us on the defensive side of the ball than it is on the offensive side," Rosewood head coach Robert Britt said. "Whatever team we're lucky to go play next week, I know our kids are going to prepare for it and fight hard."

The Eagles (3-7 overall) are the guests of Lejeune on Friday.

Big play ability

Charles B. Aycock had a lot to deal with during its game against county rival Southern Wayne on Friday night -- a two-week layoff, a wet football and the Saints' defense just to name a few.

Handing the ball to running back Jeremy Hooks seemed to be the Golden Falcons' answer to all three problems. Hooks held on to the ball, showed improved burst following the bye week and gashed the Saints on a pair of touchdown runs from 72 and 57 yards, respectively.

"Jeremy did a great job of reading his cutbacks and finding space," C.B. Aycock head coach Randy Pinkowski said. "He does not need a huge hole and he can sneak through and turn it into a big play."

Give it to Garrison

Rosewood established the ability to get outside in the first half and found a formation that Princeton had to respect.

That opened up the fullback trap in the second half.

Spencer Garrison handed the bulk of the offensive load and turned in a 211-yard, four-touchdown performance. He scored twice in regulation and twice during overtime.